I'm not sure when I'll have the time (no internet at work, etc. and so forth), but I'll definitely look into it if you keep reminding me, it's an interesting idea. Of course, some less fashionable clubs do sell straight to Europe - Liverpool's recent policy of recruiting Argentines who seem to be totally unheard of in their home towns being a good example - but generally European scouts are lazy enough to let River and Boca cream the top players off, and have them for a year or two before they go on to Europe.

That being said, arguably Argentina's best 'academy', both historically and currently (Newell's perhaps run them close) is that of River - so that's a fair few talented kids who've skipped the bottom hurdle right away and gone in at the top (of the Argentinian pile of clubs at least)...

I didn't know about Castilla playing the CWC. That is interesting.

Sam

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